Barolo

Considered the most fruit-forward and full-bodied Nebbiolo red wine in Italy, Barolo has earned a reputation as the ‘King of Wine’. It comes in Barolo several styles, depending on where the grapes are grown and how the wine is made.

The Barolo region includes valleys, hills and high altitudes. Each vineyard has different sun exposure, soil drainage and temperature, which can give unique characteristics to the wine. For example, you’ll find lighter wines in places such as La Morra and Novello, with its limestone soils. Meanwhile, the sandstone and clay of Castiglione Falletto and Monforte d’Alba help create wines with bolder flavours.

Different winemaking processes also create distinct styles. Traditionally, Barolo wines are made by fermenting crushed Nebbiolo grapes in large, neutral oak casks and then ageing them for at least 18 months in the barrel, with a total of three years ageing before release. While this may sound like a long time, these wines are meant to age, with the best examples enjoyed after ten or more years.

A modern approach to making Barolo uses smaller oak barrels, which impart flavour faster than large barrels. This approach can shorten the ageing process significantly and deliver a lighter taste.

Because of its rich fruit flavours and full body, Barolo is best friends with red meat. The key is to keep the flavours simple – think steak and steamed greens or braised beef stew. Fatty meats such as veal and lamb also pair excellently with the wine’s high acidity, which cuts through the fat, and compliment those sweeter dried fruit and cherry flavours.

But if meat isn’t on the menu, Barolo also suits earthy dishes such as mushroom risotto and truffle pasta, as well as robust cheeses such as Gorgonzola and Castelmagno. You can also stay in Italy with a pizza or pasta dish. The richness of the wine pairs delightfully with tomato-based dishes, so you can’t go wrong with a classic Margherita.

Barolo wines have an amazing ability to age in the bottle, with a minimum ageing potential of 8–10 years reaching up to 20 years and even more for some vintages. 

Once opened, you should finish a bottle of Barolo within three to five days, storing it in a cool, dry place. The wine won’t spoil past the fifth day but could lose its rich, concentrated flavours.

The day of your delivery will depend on which option you’ve chosen at checkout.  

• For a standard delivery, we will deliver your order in three to five working days. Delivery to the Scottish Highlands, some other areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore islands can take an extra few days.
• Usual delivery times are between 07.00 and 21.00.
• You can select Next-day or Named-day delivery at checkout – but do bear in mind we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

For the best experience we recommend you subscribe to our Unlimited service. A one-off payment of £29.99 entitles you to free delivery for a year – including free Next-day delivery. There’s no minimum order – you’ll get free delivery even on a single bottle. And you can get delivery to multiple addresses, so it’s perfect for gifting!

We want you to be entirely happy with your chosen wine, so we offer an unbeatable money-back guarantee on every single bottle – even wines you buy on sale.

No quibbles. No questions. Just your 100% satisfaction.

If you aren't happy for any reason, get in touch and we’ll arrange to collect your bottle within 48 hours.